Tech billionaire Elon Musk, the sole owner of Twitter, is reportedly aiming to push into the arena of artificial intelligence by building a chat bot designed to rival ChatGPT. The effort centers on assembling a team capable of creating a conversational system that can engage users in natural, fluid dialogue while trying to push the boundaries of what is considered acceptable content in online exchanges. (The Information)
According to three sources cited by The Information, the plan envisions a bot with fewer content restrictions on sensitive topics, including political, racial, and sexual issues. The goal, as described by the outlets, is to craft a model that can discuss controversial subjects with less constraint than some other public chat systems. (The Information)
As part of this push, the project has enlisted Igor Babuschkin, a veteran researcher who recently departed from Alphabet’s AI division. Babuschkin has earned recognition for his work on systems that teach machines to converse more effectively and reliably. The aim is to leverage his experience in instructing learning models to produce a chat experience that feels more capable and responsive in real-time interactions. (The Information)
Musk has not publicly confirmed the initiative, but he did share a meme on his Twitter account that touched on the topic, fueling speculation about the direction of his AI ambitions. Political discourse and freedom of speech themes frequently surface in Musk’s public commentary, where he has challenged traditional media outlets and criticized what he views as broad speech restrictions. (The Information)
Historically, Musk was a founder of OpenAI, the research group behind ChatGPT. He exited the company in 2018 to avoid potential conflicts of interest, since Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer he leads, is also pursuing work in artificial intelligence. The move reflected a balancing act between entrepreneurial ventures and the evolving landscape of AI research, where personal stakes and strategic priorities can intersect in complex ways. (The Information)